Over 50s Workers and Faulty Prepayment Meters

Money Box

BBC

Business

4.2 • 825 Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2023

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is expected to use his Budget on March 15th to introduce measures to to encourage people over 50 to return to work. Since 2019 there has been a rise in the number of people defined as economically inactive. That means they are not working, self-employed, or looking for work to claim benefits. The number rose by 830,000 between 2019 and 2022, with three quarters of that increase among those aged 50 and over. The Department for Work and Pensions has a programme to encourage people over 50 back into work by offering help with health support, pension planning and flexible working opportunities. Clare Worden visits Shrewsbury Job Centre to find out more.

Some energy customers are being left for months with faulty prepayment meters. Several people have told Money Box that although their electricity has not been disconnected the screens showing their credit has been blank since Christmas and they cannot top up, so they have no idea how much electricity they're using or what it is costing them. The law says suppliers should take 'appropriate action' within hours - arranging to fix or replace the meter. Or at the least to arrange an appointment. We'll get reaction from their suppliers and talk to Matt Cole from the Fuel Bank Foundation.

And where should you put your money to make the most out of it? We'll talk savings with Anna Bowes from Savings Champion.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Clare Worden Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 25th February, 2023)

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one.
0:06.5	I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:11.2	I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects,
0:16.0	relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life.
0:22.4	So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas, the next fact-checking, a feature,
0:28.3	and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience, and maybe that's you.
0:33.6	So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds.
0:39.5	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:43.1	Hello, welcome to this Moneybox podcast.
0:46.1	Vulnerable customers are being left for months with a prepayment metre that won't let them pay for the electricity they're using.
0:53.2	And how can savers take advantage of rising
0:55.7	interest rates to earn more on their savings? But first, the Chancellor is expected to use his
1:01.2	budget on March the 15th to introduce changes to encourage people over 50 to return to work.
1:07.9	Since 2019, there's been a big rise in the number of people defined as economically
1:12.4	inactive. That means they're not working, self-employed, or looking for work and claiming
1:17.2	benefits. The number rose by 830,000 in the last three years, and three-quarters of those
1:23.8	were aged over 50. The Department for Work and Pensions has a programme to encourage people
1:29.0	of that age back into work by offering help with health support, pension planning, flexible
1:34.3	working opportunities. Claire Worden has had exclusive access to the program for Moneybox.
1:41.3	We're just in Shrewsby Job Centre now and we're going to have a bit of a tour.
1:45.6	Simon, are you working at the moment?
1:47.8	Not at the moment, no.
	...

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